Phillip vs Tony
Phillip and Tonycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1987, Phillip was ranked #57 and Tony #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Phillip was ranked #64 and Tony #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2020, Phillip was ranked #150 and Tony #438 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Phillip was ranked #403 and Tony #217 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Phillip was ranked #785 and Tony #302 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Phillip was ranked #1460 and Tony #847 among boys in England and Wales.
Phillip and Tony over time
Phillip and Tony appear together in 6 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Tony held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Phillip in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Tony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Phillip in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1995, Tony moved ahead of Phillip in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #190 and #199 the year before became #191 and #168.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Phillip and Tony changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1991, ending at #64 and #90.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Phillip and Tony averaged 37.9 places apart, ending at #57 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Phillip and Tony were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1952 to 1987, ending at #57 and #92.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Phillip #180 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1991
Phillip held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Tony in 16.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #35 in 1966, Tony #22 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Phillip #64, Tony #90.
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1967–2024
Phillip held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Tony in 26.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #154 in 1988, Tony #150 in 1987.
The order changed in 1995: Tony moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #190 and #199; by 1995 that had become #191 and #168.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Phillip #785, Tony #302.
Norway · Boys35 shared years, 1972–2020
Phillip held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Tony in 20.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #116 in 2013, Tony #119 in 1993.
The order changed in 2003: Phillip moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #250 and #218; by 2003 that had become #209 and #249.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Phillip #150, Tony #438.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1952–1987
Phillip held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Tony in 0.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #14 in 1952, Tony #55 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Phillip #57, Tony #92.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Phillip held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Tony in 28.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #180 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Phillip #1460, Tony #847.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2012
Phillip held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Tony in 6.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #189 in 2000, Tony #144 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Phillip #403, Tony #217.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Phillip | Tony |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Phillip and Tony both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Phillip
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1994
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Tony
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1991
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1954–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys